Tides Not Worried As Skid Runs To 4

Huskey: Norfolk Just At Bump In The Road

The Tides lost 8-4 to Pawtucket at Harbor Park on Wednesday, stretching their current losing streak to a season-high four games.

In most cases, a four-game streak - whether its wins or losses - hardly bears mentioning. But when a team has played as well as the Tides have throughout the early part of the season, it gets noticed.

``We're just at a bump in the road,'' said Norfolk third baseman Butch Huskey. ``And it's something we've got to get over. The main thing is not to panic. We're too good to do that.''

Norfolk manager Toby Harrah did not even look up from his postgame report when asked about the losing streak.

``Is it four? I didn't even know,'' said Harrah, sounding calm if not particularly convincing. ``Fortunately, I have a short memory. One game back is about as far as I go.''

With the loss, the Tides saw their lead in the East Division slip to just one game over Richmond.

But while most of the Tides seemed unaffected by the minor slump, starting pitcher Chris Roberts wore a frown that looked rather heavy.

Roberts (4-4) gave up six runs in the first inning, continuing a frustrating season that has been a mixed bag of sharp outings and horrible ones. His 12 starts include five very strong games and five poundings. His ERA on the road is 3.26, but at pitcher-friendly Harbor Park it is 6.95.

``I don't know why that is,'' Roberts said, shaking his head. ``I have no answer for that. It's not supposed to be like that, but that's the way it is.''

Though clearly frustrated, Roberts worked hard to remain polite. When asked if there was a specific pattern emerging in the rough outings, he fumbled around for a few seconds before saying, ``I don't know. Hell, I just don't know.''

On Wednesday night, before a crowd of 5,486, the Red Sox hit the ball hard all night, with 14 hits and six walks against four Norfolk pitchers. Even Pawtucket's outs often came on line drives and long fly balls, and the Red Sox did not hit into a ground out until the ninth inning; the Tides had a total of two assists in the field, including a pickoff by catcher Alberto Castillo and a double-play started by center fielder Ricky Otero.

Meanwhile, Pawtucket starter Tim VanEgmond (2-0) held the Tides to two hits over five innings. Norfolk rallied for three runs, including a two-run homer by Derek Lee, off of reliever Joel Johnston, but they never got back into the game after falling behind 6-0 in the top of the first.

``Early on, we were getting the big hits when we needed them,'' Huskey said. ``Now we're not getting the hits, and sometimes our pitchers aren't making the pitches when they need to. Right now, we need to pick up the pitching staff, and they need to pick us up.''

Huskey said the Tides will rebound and get back on track.

``When teams come in here to play us, or when we go on the road, they're ready for us because they know we're the team to beat,'' Huskey said. ``And we know that, too - we know we're still the team to beat in this league.''